JUDAEA, Bar Kokhba War. 132-136 CE. Zuz = Denarius (Silver, 19 mm, 3.26 g, 6 h), irregular coinage. Uncertain mint. Undated, but attributed to Year 3 = 134/5 CE. 𐤔𐤌𐤏𐤅𐤍 (‘Šimʿon’ in Paleo-Hebrew) Grape bunch on vine. Rev. 𐤋𐤇𐤓𐤅𐤕 𐤉𐤓𐤅𐤔𐤋𐤌 ('For the Freedom of Jerusalem' in Paleo-Hebrew) Palm frond curving very slightly to right. Bromberg I 226 = Mildenberg 265.2 (this coin illustrated, O42/R159). Hendin 6457a. Meshorer, AJC, -. Samel 2500-2501 (same dies). Shoshana I 20443-20445 (same dies). Sofaer 135. Rare and nicely toned. Overstruck on an Arabian drachm of Trajan. Somewhat rough and with traces of overstriking, otherwise, good very fine.



This zuz from the collection of Abraham Bromberg was struck over an Arabian drachm of Trajan: on the obverse, parts of the emperor’s head and legend are still visible, while on the reverse parts of Arabia’s drapery and her bundle of cinnamon sticks can be made out. The undertype can therefore be identified as RPC III 4072-4075.